Gum contouringGum reshaping · Gums in a gummy smile
- Target
- Gum line
- Teeth
- Not trimmed
- Bone
- Checked as well
- Lips
- Not covered
- Relapse
- If the bone is left
- Cost
- Explained after your exam
Gum contouring reshapes the gum line that covers the teeth. It is used when the teeth are a normal length but the visible part looks short.
Reshaping the gum line alone can change how your smile looks. But if bone is involved, working on the gums alone is not enough. If the bone is left as it is and only the gum is removed, the gum grows back.
If you show a lot of gum when you smile because of your lips or jaw, gum contouring will not solve it. The gummy smile page explains each cause; this page covers only cases where the gums are reshaped.
Why gum contouring
Only the line is reshapedThe teeth are not trimmed. What matters is the height of the gum line.
Your natural length showsThe teeth are not short, only covered. Removing the gum that covers them lets their natural length show.
Your teeth are not touchedIt is also different from treatments for the lips. It works on the gum line that covers the teeth.
How gum contouring works
The teeth are not trimmed, and we also check how far the bone reaches.
- 01
We tell apart three causes
We check whether it is the gums, the lips, or worn teeth. If the lips are the cause, gum contouring will not solve it.
- 02
We measure the bone
We check whether it is safe to remove only gum at that spot. If the bone is left and only the gum is removed, it grows back.
- 03
We even out the gum line
Gum lines that sit at different heights on each tooth are reshaped evenly. What matters is the height of the gum line.
- 04
We follow the healing
We follow up until the gum line settles. Areas where bone was also treated take longer.
What shows when you smile
When a lot of gum shows, where we treat depends on the cause. We look at the cause first.
The gum is covering the teeth
This is when the teeth are a normal length, but the gum covers them so the visible part looks short. We reshape the gumline by the amount that is covering them, and we also check how far up the bone comes.
The upper lip lifts high
This is when the gums and teeth are normal, but the upper lip lifts higher when you smile. We leave the teeth alone and reduce how far the lip lifts. The effect is not permanent.
The teeth have worn shorter
This is when the teeth have worn down and become shorter, not when there is more gum. Removing more gum would expose the roots, so the first step is a treatment that restores the lost length.
The jawbone is long
When the jawbone is long, treating the gums or lips will not change it. We do not stop at this treatment; we tell you right away.
Is it just a matter of cutting the gums?
We also need to see how high the bone comes up. If the bone is left as it is and only the gum is removed, the gum grows back.
Can the gums show again after treatment?
Yes, if the lips are the cause. If your upper lip rises a lot, it rises even further after the gums are reshaped, and the gums show again.
Are the teeth trimmed?
No. We reshape the gum line that was covering the teeth.
Does this apply if my teeth are worn down?
No. In that case the gums have not grown; the teeth have worn down and become shorter. Treatment to restore the lost length comes first.
